Secular Citizen Vol.29 No.09 dated 2nd March 2020

Cardinal Gracias reelected bishops’ conference president

Bengaluru, Feb 17, 2020: Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, on February 17 reelected president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India for a second term.

The election took place on the fifth day of the conferences’ 34 plenary assembly at John’s Medical College in Bengaluru, capital of Karnataka.

The 75-year-old cardinal is among the six advisers of Pope Francis.

The Pope had extended Cardinal Gracias’ term as the Bombay archbishop last December. The Indian prelate had submitted his resignation in November as he was about to cross 75, the mandatory year of retirement.

Cardinal Gracias will now lead the Indian Catholic Church for another two years, a stressful period for the country.

The bishops also reelected SyroMalabar Archbishop Mar George Njaralakatt of Tellicherry as the first vice president and Syro-Malankara Bishop Joshua Ignathios of Mavelikkara the second vice president for another term.

The CBCI statues stipulate that the three office bearers should represent India’s three ritual Churches – Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara.

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Archbishop Felix Machado, the bishop of Vasai, was elected as the CBCI secretary general.

The bishops congratulated the new office-bearers.

The first draft of the final statement was presented to the participants by the drafting committee. The final statement will be released on February 19, the last day of the assembly.

— Matters India

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Spirit’s Unity Charisma!

Pope Francis on 10 February 2020, sent a “Unity” message to 7 Cardinals and 137 Bishops from 50 countries who gathered in Lappiano, Italy, to celebrate the birth centenary of Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement. The topic: “A Charisma at the Service of the Church and Humanity”! The Focolare Movement is a Catholic organization focused on the principles of unity and fraternity, which began in Northern Italy in 1943. (Some of the Pope’s Unity observations): “The Holy Spirit invites you to choose Christ Crucified as the ‘Compass of our Ministry’ – To become one with everyone, from the least, the excluded and the discarded, and to bring them the light, joy and peace of the Resurrection!”

“The Spirit opens dialogue of charity and truth, with every man and woman of all cultures and religious traditions; so as to build a new civilization of love! The Spirit puts us at the school of Mary, wherein we learn what is worthy of love, and what remains in love!”

“The ‘charisma of unity’ is one of the graces of our time; which is like experiencing a momentous change. It calls for a simple and radical spiritual and pastoral reform, in order to bring the Church back towards an ever new Gospel of Jesus!”

“Through the ‘charisma of unity’, fully attuned to the Magisterium of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, the Holy Spirit concretely teaches us to live the grace of unity, in accordance with Christ’s prayer – ‘That they may all be one, as You Father, are in Me and I in You; that they may also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me’!” (John 17:21).

—Dr. Trevor Colaso, Bandra (W), Mumbai.

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Contents pg. 3 - Congress a loser or a masterstroke - in Delhi pg. 5 - Voice of the People pg. 7 - Parliament has become an adda of criminals? pg. 8 - You citizens decide: pg. 9 - Why CAA-NRC not good for bleeding country pg. 10 - Fasting must benefit others pg. 11 - Views on news pg. 12 - "What shall I do with Jesus?" pg. 13 - 24x7 Shopping in Mumbai Metro pg. 14 - Recipe pg. 15 - Mangaluru marks feast of Relic of St. Anthony pg. 16 - Fun page pg. 17 - Inspiration! pg. 18 - Fresh insight into the weeks of Lent pg 20 - Matrimonials pg 23 - Emerging technologies in classroom

Congress a Loser or a Masterstroke – In Delhi

By Don Aguiar In TV commercials you can never find a Person like Amitabh Bachchan. First he asks you to win cash thru Kaun Banega Crorepati. After that, he asks you to spend the money by purchasing jewellery from Kalyan jewellers. Then, he asks you to Mortgage that jewellery in Muthoot Finance and after that, when you are not able to pay the principle and interest and are in tension he asks you to, “apply Navrathna oil on your head and cool yourself!"

Likewise a lot of people feel that Congress is led by "Pappu", but forget that Congress almost beat BJP in Gujarat and actually defeated it in Rajasthan, MP, Punjab and Chattisgarh, in a fair and open fight and not through "freebies". It has a century of political history and has plenty of stalwarts, who may be allegedly corrupt, but has loads of political acumen and experience.

AAP is essentially a threat to Congress. Where AAP fights, it cuts into Congress votes. BJP still got its 38% votes. To BJP it doesn't matter whether it fights AAP or Congress. Both is actually better. It is Congress which desperately needs to eliminate AAP. AAP is gunning for a tie-up with Congress suggesting that they fight BJP together. When it happens, Congress knows, its vote bank will be split.

In chess, one sacrifices a pawn to win the game. Congress did exactly the same. Sacrificed Delhi to trap AAP. Kejriwal thought he was clever by half. What he has promised is around Rs.7000 per month for each family: - 1,500 for bus rides - 1,500 for free medical (300 per head x 5 members of family)

Cover : Parliament has become an adda of criminals?: (Article on pg.7)

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- 600 for electricity (Contd.. on p. 4) THE SECULAR CITIZEN

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(Contd.. from p. 3) - 3000 for education (1500 x 2 children for education to be at par with private schools).

- 500 for sewer lines.

Take 5k to be conservative. If 60% of Delhi's 1 crore households claim it (which they will by hook or crook), it will be Rs.3000 crores per month = 36,000 crore per year, while Delhi's annual budget is 60,000 crores. Assuming 50% of that is anyway supposed to be covered under government expenses, and AAP is offering only 50% more, it still amounts to 18,000 crores per year.

And this is just the beginning. The demand for freebies is never ending - it only increases with time, till the economy collapses. Look at Russia or any other communist state which followed this model.

The only way it can be sustained is when a country has oil - but Delhi has none.

How could Kejriwal do it? The secret is GST. In 2017, Central government committed 14% increase in tax collection every year for five years (means when GST collection falls short of 14% higher than previous year, centre gives a grant to cover the shortfall).

Delhi received Rs.3950 crore last year over and above their tax collection.

This year it will be closer to 10,000 crores. Besides, Delhi Police is paid for by centre, while other states have to foot the bill.

Flush with funds, AAP could offer all the freebies. Why didn't BJP? If Delhi, with 2 crore population, needs 10,000 crores, UP - with 20 crores population - will need 1,00,000 crores.

The state will collapse. Same for other states. Their budgets will collapse at this level of freebies. Mamata Banerjee - the ardent admirer of anyone who defeats Modi - could muster the courage for only 25 units per month.

What happens in other states? The principle is simple - if I give a big chocolate to one child and small to

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the other, the first one may or may not be happy, but the second one is definitely pissed off.

Bihar is next. The entire budget of Bihar will not suffice for freebies. If AAP offers the same, where are the funds?

If AAP offers anything less, it is an insult to voters of Bihar.

BJP also offers freebies, but only what they can sustain across India - Rs.500 per month, not 5,000 per month, and only to poor farmers for a good reason. Farmers suffer because of restrictions on agro-exports (which will lead to food shortages). If they don't get a free market to sell, they deserve to be compensated. Delhiites don't.

After 2022, GST compensation will stop (it was only for 5 years). The 10,000 crore grant from centre (which is funding the freebie) will stop. Then the freebies will hurt. However - Development is anyway at a standstill. No new major project in last 5 years. All major new projects in Delhi were largely funded by centre. Now they will be exclusively funded by centre.

- No new buses in last 5 years. Expect promises but no new buses.

- Sewer lines without sewage treatment plant means sewage will be dumped in Yamuna.

- Summers will have power cuts (electricity spot prices shoot up to 7 rupees in summers, but it has to be supplied at 4 rupees. Distribution companies lose money. So they will declare technical faults and shut down supply during peak summers).

- Pollution will increase because of generators (which you can't live without). AAP has not taken a single step to tackle pollution in the last 5 years (except odd-even in which government did nothing, people suffered).

- Poor families working in Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurugram will migrate to Delhi. 5k is a lot.

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AAP is now trapped in Delhi. There is nothing new in what they has offered - they have just gone overboard - which parties with pan-India presence cannot match. Even AAP cannot match this outside Delhi.

Incidentally, "everything for free by the state" is nothing new or some great ingenuity. This is exactly what Communism promised.

Enough economies across the world remind us that Communism only leads to destruction and, worse, disintegration. Coupled with Muslim vote consolidation, it can only spell disaster.

With these policies, Delhi will not become Paris, it will become slum of freebie. Stop Voting for Candidates just for free rice, free food, free rice cooker, free etc.-

Uttan Chauk: A sex education course for youth renamed as *Education to love* was conducted by Fr. Michael G and Mrs. Assumption. Sessions were creative and based on biblical episodes like: 1. "Will u be the mother of my child?"requests God the Father to Mary.

2. St. Joseph was in fact the chaste man with a beautiful wife in the house!

3. A session on married life went with the story of Fredy, who did not become a priest but conducted himself as a married saint!

4. St. Agatha's life story herself as in love with God, a consecrated life.

5. Another story was enacted of a roudy youth, whom his dad pleads saying, "Son, why do u behave so rudely with us? All was done to you with love except that... (?)

All the sessions were conducted with dramatisation and in an interactive method. Sixty youth preparing for Confirmation participated in the formation event. Bro. Ashley and Fr. Don john arranged the event. —Fr. Michael G. St. Paul Church, Nanbhat, Post Sopara, Vasai (N)

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their promises to a great extent.

40- day Lenten journey We have entered the holy season of lent ---a 40-day Lenten journey commencing Ash Wednesday, during which time the church calls us to a life of detachment and renunciation of our worldly life, by undertaking acts of mercy, charity, love , fasting and abstinence prior to the celebration of the church’s greatest feast of Easter. Ashes have been a symbol of penance since the days of the Old Testament, when Christians were obliged to do penance in public for sins committed. David’s daughter Tamar “ put on ashes on her head , and tore the long robe she was wearing” (2 Samuel , 13: 19). Prophet Daniel “turned to the Lord , pleaded with prayer and fasting, did penance , put on sackcloth and ashes” (Daniel , 9: 3). In the book of Jonah , the people of Nineveh fasted along with their king in sackcloth and ashes till God showed his mercy and saved them from destruction. (Jonah, 3: 5-6). A very common way of doing penance is to mortify the body by fasting and abstinence. Christ showed us the way by fasting for 40 days and nights in the desert. However, it is necessary that our external practices of penance be accompanied by a true inner conversion of heart, forgiveness and reconciliation. In these days of worldwide violence and terrorism, the Holy Father tells us that the only way to peace is through acts of forgiveness. The bible tells us “ Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven who makes his sun rise on the evil and good , and sends rain to the unjust and the just”. We need to make Christ’s love present in the world through generous works of charity, which not only means giving alms to the poor , but

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also manifesting our love for those suffering injustice and persecution.

Good Friday is the day which brings to a close 40 days of the Lenten season of prayer and penance and commemorates the death of Jesus on the cross, which was a perfect sacrifice .By dying on the cross , Jesus became the true paschal lamb , by shedding his precious blood in place of the sacrificial rite of the slaughtered lamb. On the night before Jesus died on the cross, Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist by taking bread and wine , giving it to his disciples saying “ Take and eat , this is my body, and this is my blood. Do this in memory of me”.

The resurrection of Christ, which the church celebrates on Easter Sunday gives us new life in the risen Lord which re-unites fallen man to God the Father after the sin of Adam. The cross which was earlier a symbol of ignominy has now become a symbol of victory and salvation, and an object for veneration. done!

—A. F. Nazareth, Alto Porvorim. Zone

AAP marches on…

The people of Delhi have spoken.

The Aam Admi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal has stormed back into power with a resounding victory at the recent Assembly polls. They have “swept” the poll arena clean with their broom. What is it that clicked for the AAP that they were given such a huge mandate for a second term? Have they fulfilled the promises made by them at the 2015 elections? Several reasons have been listed for their success. The debate can go on. The fact seems to be that they delivered on THE SECULAR CITIZEN

It is said that this was bitterly fought election with high voltage campaigning. The stakes were high. AAP was hoping for a repeat of the 2015 Elections while the opposition were going all out to unseat the ruling party. One thing however stood out in the campaigning and that was Arvind Kejriwal’s composure; he seemed calm, not making personal attacks. In short, he did not seem to be resorting to negative campaigning. On the contrary, he laid emphasis on his achievements during their five-year term and that seems to held him in good stead. The biggest fallout of this election however, was that the Congress which held sway over the entire nation at one time, was completely decimated with most of their candidates even losing their deposits. It is the people’s power. In the meanwhile, AAP marches on.

—Melville X. D’Souza - Orlem, Malad West

Hanging in the balance The 4 Nirbhaya rapists have finally reached the long end of the rope. Or have they? A Delhi court has set 6am, March 3 as the new date for hanging.

However the fourth convict Pawan Gupta has still not exhausted all legal remedies available to him.

This is clearly a case of mockery and travesty of justice.They rapists appear to be still acting in cahoots and thumbing their noses at the legal system. The court must put an end to this shameful charade.

— Prof Robert Castellino Mumbai

Democracy in jeopardy With the Prime minister Modi making his stand clear by ruling out a re(Contd.. on p. 6)

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(Contd.. from p. 5) think on the CAA and Article 370, and Home minister Amit Shah refusing to budge even an inch on the contentious CAA , the future of democracy in the country lies in jeopardy, to say the least. The nationwide protests against the CAA, NPR and NRC don’t seem to die down. Several state govts have also joined the protests by passing resolutions in their respective Assemblies against the implementation of the CAA, NPR and NRC. The protestors of the 2-month old sit-in at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi refuse to listen to the 2 interlocutors appointed by the supreme court or shift until their demands for the withdrawal of CAA , NPR and NCR by the Central govt are met. In Goa around 15,000 people took part in the protest march and anti-CAA rally on Friday , organised by the ‘Goa Alliance against CAANRC-NPR’, holding banners and placards, and pledged not to furnish any information for the purpose of NPR or for Census 2021.One of the speakers from Assam highlighted the plight of lakhs of people in Assam who have become stateless after the implementation of the NRC. Few days back thousands of people in Tamil Nadu also blocked roads and marched in procession, urging the Tamil Nadu assembly to pass a resolution against CAA, NPR and NRC. In such an unprecedented show of widespread nationwide solidarity and protests against the implementation of CAA , NPR and NRC, the big question is whether our country will pass the test of being the world’s biggest secular and democratic country.

—A. F. Nazareth Alto Porvorim

A 'White Paper' will set aside fears of the common man.

My father was born somewhere in Goa, In some vaddo, 120 years ago. He passed away 50 years ago. I'm trying to locate his place and date of birth. It appears he wasn't even born! I must be an alien! Hope I'm not deported to Mars! This may be stretching the point a bit far, but it is more or less symptomatic of the fears of the common man vis-a-vis CAA, NPR and NRC. The govt can easily set aside the fears of the people by issuing a 'white paper' detailing the precise questions that will be asked and documents that will be required for the NPR (and for the NRC if and when introduced). Furthermore, the white paper must clearly indicate the fate of tens of millions of poor people who are beggars, vagrants and homeless; people who don't have any documents for one reason or the other.

They have nothing more than the tattered clothes on their bodies. Where will they keep documents, even if they had them? These millions must not be subjected to unnecessary harassment and left to the mercy and whims of corrupt officials . All questions and identity requirements must be in black and white.

—Prof Robert Castellino Mumbai

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Parliament has become an adda of criminals?

Criminals In Parliaments?????

Mera Bharat Mahan

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n happier days entering politics was considered ‘noble’ and dignifies. It is not so these days. Minu and Masani once said: “ Today if you ever wish to enter politics in India, you need to have Money power, Men Power and Muscle Power....” During the freedom struggle, those who dedicated themselves, were honest, pro-poor, pro-nation, truthful and of course, God-fearing. They sacrificed self and served the noble cause.

The present Parliament published a lengthy report on the present-day Members of the Parliament. It seems the Parliament has become an 'adda' of criminals...see these facts: Of 539 Lok Sabha Members : X 229 face serious criminal cases in courts. Their crimes are decoity, kidnapping, rapes and murders....

X 147 face serious charges like criminal conspiracy and monetary irregularities.....

X 43 face charges of communal disharmony....

regimes go by slogans - “Garibi Hatao” by the Congress and the un-spoke slogan by the B J P is “Garib Hatao”...

Once elected to power, leaders tend to forget people. For them their party matters - Can we imagine that some B J P leaders openly “glorified” Godse and belittled Gandhi... A Godse temple is made where Godse is worshipped... and Gandhi is laughed at?! Modi keeps mysterious ‘maun’ (silence) in his Man ki baat....

Crores of rupees are spent in his foreign trips.... his popularity has cost millions to

by Ignatius Dabhi this poor country.

Sr. Journalist

As a working journalist, I have been close to many Congress and B J P politicians - many MPs and MLAs.... This also brought me close to the Home Department. I have closely seen them working.... most of them have been totally unscrupulous, shameless, and often anti-social.... They fear nobody.

No god, no law, no Constitution, no nothing! People fear them. The more they are feared, the greater dignified they feel! During earlier days, the ruler liked to be loved, today’s ruler like to be feared. In those days, kings lived for their people, today ( leaders want people live for them! The present-day

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A high-ranking Home Department official when questioned, replied: Gone are the days when we trusted our higher-ups and worked.... today we work under fear.... our phones are secretly tapped and we are closely followed up. Fear and uncertainty loom low on us all....” Under the name of democracy, we have dictatorship. Many secret agencies gather all sort of information...

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The Supreme Court is aware of all this and that is why it has asked political partied why did they select tainted leaders for elections... Be it Congress to B J P, they all have backed up tainted men and placed them in the governments... Voters in the West are more informed about their candidates.... here we have known goons and gangsters to goof poor, ignorant crowds.... Corruption and under-table money is so much in circulation...

Honest, sincere, truthful men are not wanted in public life. They don’t go any further. Today we need forgetters, unscrupulous, rogues in administration.... Here honesty never pays. Every cupboard is full of skeletons...

Is there any ray of hope in Mera Bharat? Will it continue ad infinitum?

Today’s politicians work for their rich industrialist friends... the poor, the hungry, the naked and the jobless is far forgotten.... Does this sound too pessimist? We like to live in dreams.... amid rosy comforts.. God save my India!

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WHETHER THE DELHI VERDIT IS HERALDING A POLITICAL CHANGE IN THE COUNTRY?

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by Eric D'Sa

t is said that Homo Sapiens, as the social scientists call us human beings, were able to become the dominant animal species in this world, not only because we have a much superior brain and hence intelligence, but also have what we call consciousness. However these enabled us in the Stone Age to just about be able to grow, multiply and spread around the world. Soon we entered the agricultural age which enabled us to domesticate animals and live and grow in tribal villages. This helped us to further strengthen our hold over the rest of the animal world.

Since then with the invention of writing and money, the Homo Sapiens have learnt the the benefit of Human Co-Operation Networks and story to dominate the world. For instance from the time of Pharos of Egypt, the Human Co-operation Networks, with a story, made the Pharos a living God, to rule Egypt with an iron fist for centuries. The story in the case was taming the river Nile. History from then has shown that with similar networks, human beings have been able to dominate the whole world and form large nation states, religions and corporations that have spread around the world.

In present day democracies we call such Human Co -Operation Networks as political parties and to succeed they need a story, even if it is fiction. But it will not last long if it does not provide visible and actual results. BJP started with its story of providing “ Ache Din” to the people and bringing back huge amounts of money siphoned off from the country, sufficient enough to put into each Indians bank account Rs.15,00,000/-. The other BJP political story was the Gujrat model of development. However, due to self inflicted policies over the period of 5 years nothing of the above happened, and new stories had to be invented.

Hence the story of the majority Religion being in danger, a 5 trillion economy and Nationalism took over and paid the re-

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quired political dividend during the national elections.

election on his own, rather than on the BJP’s, terms.

However, the recent Delhi verdict is a reflective of the city’s, in particular the youths’, resistance to the BJP’s divisive, hate-filled approach. As we get used to the spectacular victory of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi election, it is important to also take note of the characterisation of the win by its leaders as an endorsement of what they term as their ‘politics of work’. They insist that this model of policymaking has marked a shift from the politics of vacuous promises, to one of work done on the ground.

However, even as one grants the AAP leaders this boast, it is equally important

It is remarkable that the AAP received support from affluent colonies like Greater Kailash, Vasant Vihar, as well as colonies of the underprivileged, like Govind Puri and Seelampur; the party gained approval of both the highly educated voters in New Delhi and South Delhi and the supposedly illiterate villagers. Clearly, voters in the richer areas did not choose Mr. Kejriwal for giving them free water and electricity but over something bigger. These were issues that concerned them, but not them alone, in defining the nation. This concern began with a visible, almost forcible, redefining of the nation by the BJP along the path of ‘Hindu Rashtra’. This was not the path Indians had inherited from their recent history, which had always celebrated their civilisation’s pluralism.

They opted for Arvind Kejrivals Gandhian soft Hinduism.

YOU THE CITIZENS DECIDE: to note that the change has brought in a new political story of Patriotism based on tackling real poverty at the bottom of the pyramid.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal realised early that his strong electoral plank was his government’s accomplishments in the area of social welfare — provision of affordable education, healthcare, water and electricity to the poor families in Delhi — and that his party’s chief rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had nothing to offer on this front. As a matter of fact the inflation in food prices was hurting even the middle class families. The BJP, he understood, would thus seek to draw him into an agenda which has given it several victories: a programme featuring communal hatred masquerading as nationalism. The passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the project of National Register of Citizens/National Population Register set the background for the BJP’s characteristically aggressive campaign. The protests against these, symbolised by Shaheen Bagh, gave it further context.

Mr. Kejriwal wisely chose to fight the THE SECULAR CITIZEN

There was also concern over the BJP’s brazenly partisan use of the state apparatus, including police and bureaucracy.

The thrashing of students at Jamia Millia Islamia by policemen and the latter’s protection to goons with masked faces who entered the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were widely witnessed on TV channels for days, and met with public condemnation lead by students. The biggest loss to the BJP’s support base in this election was from the youth. Until a year ago, a portion of India’s young generation formed the unquestioning, adoring fan base of Mr. Modi even if they were not committed to the BJP or trained in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) shakhas. However, the CAA has made them aware of the unabashedly divisive politics of the government headed by Mr. Modi and they have refused to fall for it.

Here, a very interesting indicator is the fact that the BJP’s vitriol in public is now being met with roars of disapproval from (Contd.. on p. 22)

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Why CAA-NRC not good for bleeding country

By Anis Ansari Lucknow, Feb 20, 2020: The unprecedented wave of nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR) has shown unthinkable secular unity at a time when the Centre was trying to extend the infamous ‘divide and rule’ policy of the British.

The BJP would never have anticipated such huge uproar from all corners of the country when it was getting the Bill passed smoothly in both the Houses. As protest marches and rallies dominate the daily political discourse, it is imperative to understand what role the CAA, NRC and NPR can actually play at a time when the country is strife with rising unemployment, uncontrolled inflation and much more.

Under NRC, each citizen will be required to furnish documents with their birth dates and places to prove their relations with their parents and siblings. The usual identity proofs like Aadhar cards, ration cards, electricity bills, bank passbooks are no more admissible for this purpose.

Under NPR exercise from April to September 2020, all persons living in India will be required to give the details of their residence for the last and future six months along with details of parents and mobile numbers.

Under CAA, any person belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan, who entered into India before December 31, 2014, shall not be treated as illegal immigrant. Such a person who has stayed in India for five years or more will be eligible to become a citizen of India.

Below is a list of assessment of how the CAA, NRC and NPR can work together in the country with a population

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of 1.37 billion, the second in the world next to China (http://statisticstimes. com/demographics/population-of-india.php).

1. These provisions are unnecessary: The object of this scheme is stated to be able to identify and deport infiltrators. This can be better achieved by more efficient and honest surveillance system. In order to detect a doubtful citizen or an illegal infiltrator, governments do not have to obtain certificates from the entire population that they are not offenders.

It is estimated that the number of illegal immigrants may range from 1 to 2 crores against the 1.37 billion population of the country. In order to detect a relatively small population of illegal immigrants, it is avoidable to put the entire population of a billion to submit certificates of births of their parents and themselves. Under the existing laws (Indian Citizenship Act, Foreigners Act, Passport Act) also, governments can detect, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants from any country.

2. This exercise will accelerate economic downfall of the country: The country is already bleeding with large scale unemployment, rising prices, stagnant exports and imports, declining investment, recession, falling rupee, agrarian distress and farmer suicides. When an entire country is THE SECULAR CITIZEN

put under pressure to collect documents to prove their parents’ and their citizenship, huge expenditures are involved for carrying out the task while the country is already hit by a staggering unemployment rate (https://qz.com/india/1401357/ indias-high-gdp-growth-is-hidingan-unemployment-crisis/).

3. This will trigger large scale corruption: When 1.37 billion citizens are made to queue up before government offices to collect certificates, among them are illiterate farmers, socio economically backward groups and landless laborers, officials will surely set up their shops wide open to loot the hapless applicants in order to speed up the process. This will in turn result in forced mobility arising out of calamities, situations and compulsions to migrate from cities to cities in search of livelihood, education, documentation and so on. Doubtful citizens will have to run around the Foreigners’ Tribunals for appeal for decades.

4. CAA is highly discriminatory: At its core, the Act violates Fundamental Rights of Equality under Articles 14, 15, 16, 19, 21 and 25 of the Indian Constitution. CAA excludes Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan by design. Also are excluded Tamil Brahmins from Sri Lanka, Madhesis from Nepal, Ah(Contd.. on p. 22)

9

Curb cross demolitions With reference to Jubel D' Cruz's letter titled : EusCe in The Secuflar Citizen dated 17 February, 2020 the demolition of crosses without prior notice ,or without documentation or court orders is totally illegal and must be challenged in court and the historical crosses must be rebuilt by the BMC and addition to this the BMC and the BMC officials who carried out the crosses demolition must be severely punished , fined and permanently dismissed from service and if the crosses demolition occurs again the same punishment must be repeated and the BMC 's fine must be doubled.

The real reason and purpose for the demolition of the crosses must be ascertained through surprise sting operations conducted on BMC officials who have demolished the crosses by the media.

Since many of the existing crosses are historical they must be secured with a fence and a burglar alarm and buzzer and hidden CC cameras.

Replicas must be made of historical crosses that have long ceased to exist or even better still reconstruction of old historical crosses from the remainents of these crosses must be carried out on a war footing.

In these ways we can and must curb cross demolitions .

—Peter Castellino

The watch dogs of the government With reference to Eric D' Sa 's article titled : Who Should Be The Watch Dogs Of The Government? in The Secular Citizen dated 17 February, 2020 the people, the unite secular, liberal and progressive opposition , an impartial judiciary an impartial media and an impartial and autonomous police force.

When a united secular liberal and progressive opposition does not exist then the people are the opposition.

Other important watch dogs of the people are human rights organisations which can make people aware

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of their rights and help them to fight for them when they are violated.

Any decision taken in an elected body must be done openly and transparently only after a very thorough discussion of the issue in question and a law must be passed to ensure that it becomes a reality.

The right to protest and freedom of expression are vital fundamental rights that can and must be used to check the excesses and wrong doings of the ruling political party .

Extremely controversial issues must be settled through a referendum and grevience polls conducted separately but at the same time of a political election .

The right to recall must be immediately passed without fail to recall ineffective , corrupt and communal politicians and also politicians with a criminal background and the term of the leader and deputy leader of an elected house ie prime minister , deputy prime minister , chief minister deputy chief minister and deputy chief minister must be reduced to two four terms and the life of the house must be reduced to four years and the president and vice president must be allowed to serve only two four year terms .

The same must apply to all upper houses in the country where two -thirds of their members must be directly elected by the people and in states where no upper exists they must be restored .

These then are the watch dogs of the government and eternal vigilance is the price we must pay to keep democracy strong and healthy.

—Peter Castellino.

Jack of All Stall Reliable House for Religious Goods Gloria Church Bldg., 263, Dr. Ambedkar Rd., Byculla, Mumbai - 400027

Tel.: 23725963, 23749358 Estd: 1951

Prop. B. D'Souza THE SECULAR CITIZEN

Fasting must benefit others In the run up to Lent, Pope Francis (in a post now gone viral)warned against fake fasting. He said "If we are going to fast from anything this Lent, even more than chocolates or alcohol, we must fast from indifference towards others". ( The post is from a homily 5 years ago but relevant nonetheless). "Does my fast help others? asks the Pope. "If it does not it's fake, it's inconsistent and it takes you on the path to a double life, pretending to be a just Christian - like the Pharisees or the Sadducees” .

Several men give up alcohol during lent. For those who drink daily (like this writer, who is celebrating his golden jubilee---not of wedding but drinking) abstaining from alcohol can be a huge sacrifice. But it would be meaningful if the huge amount of money saved on this exercise is given to charity. It is also a small matter that taking a break from alcohol is good for the liver( pun intended).

Same goes for smoking cigarettes, which are very expensive due to the applicable 'sin tax' . Here too, the money saved may be given to charity. While this will benefit the poor it will also benefit the smoker's lungs.

Cutting down on tempting chocolates is a tough ask for women, but it comes with the tempting possibility of fitting into last year's gown!

The bottom line is that fasting is a good form of penance. It is also good for the health. But if it doesn't benefit others, it is meaningless.

—Prof Robert Castellino Malad Mumbai

For placing Ads. in

The Secular Citizen The Examiner DIVO Konkani Weekly RAKNNO & Uzvaad and other community publications

Contact:Ad-Master 9820473103 2-8 March 2020

Delhi Elections Thakur’s ‘goli ’ ricochets!

Who won the Delhi ODI [elections]?

India or Pakistan! If indeed it was an Indo-Pak match, Pak won handsomely which means India lost. I, for one, am not sorry. The forces, ‘pretending’ to be India, were shown their place in the land of religious plurality, castes, cultures, and beliefs etc which make India.

The RSS functionary too made it clear that BJP is not the sole guardian of the Hindus nor does it represent them. Unfortunately, the BJP in a desperate bid tried to make it an explosive contest between Hindus and the Muslims. The election rout at the hands of the AAP clearly shows voters’ maturity.

The cosmopolitan Delhi representing every State of the country is a mini India and if the results are viewed with an independent mind, this is what India would do if general elections are held now. People are sick and tired of the games politicians play in the name of religion. First it was termed as Indo Pak elections. Then came the ‘Goli maro gaddharoko’ slogan encouraged by a sitting Union Minister goading people to repeat it again and again. One of the BJP’s MPs said if the ‘other side’ won, the daughters and mothers of Delhi, will be raped. As if that was not enough the powerful Home Minister exhorts people to press the voting machine button so hard that the [electric] current hits the ‘other side’ meaning the Shaheen Bagh. Everybody clapped. They enjoyed the one-liner. Despite a little less than 50 public meetings by Amit Shah BJP could win 8, yet claimed 48 seats.

They need a sensible Psephologist.

The results have set the BJP thinking seriously and it is no surprise that the Home Minister Amit Shah had to publicly concede that the talk about goli, Shaheen Bagh etc could have cost the party valuable votes and the election. If this late realization, after four consecutive elections set-backs post 2019 general elections is for real, then we could see a radical change in the coming weeks and months. Was the summons to Union Minister Giriraj Singh by the new party chief a beginning? No! He says now all Muslims should have been sent to Pak in 1947.

Will the Chief also summon Amit Shah, Anurag Thakur and Verma? That will show the intent of the party. People will

2-8 March 2020

VIEWS on NEWS watch the developments.

The elections for the Bihar Assembly are not far off. BJP’s approach to the campaign will demonstrate if there has been a course correction in the company of Nitish Kumar who has been losing his close aides Pawan Verma [PV] and Prashant Kishor [PK]. The latter told Nitish Kukar that Gandhi and Godse cannot co-exist – a very loaded statement.

A shrewd politician that Nitish Kumar is, it will not be surprising if he blackmails the BJP and dominate the show in Bihar.

BJP may not be entirely averse to it as any loss in Bihar could virtually begin the countdown for the downfall of the once mighty party. They can then attribute the loss to JD[U]. PK’s moves will be interesting should he float a new political outfit.

If BJP continues to remain in denial mode, it will immensely benefit the fragmented opposition. They could come together and even the likes of Ram Vilas Paswan, if shown the carrot of CM-ship may desert NDA. If the NDA fares badly, Nitish Kumar too could be vulnerable and get back into the Mahaghatbandhan, if that means retaining his Chair which he loves so much. That could mean the end of NDA. Shiv Sena is out and the Akalis are very uncomfortable with the NDA. BJP’s massive Delhi defeat is akin to the mighty Humpty Dumpty fall [from grace].

All the King’s Horses [300 MPs] and all the King’s men [other leaders and cadres] could not put Humpty together [back in power] again. Their only consolation is that they can have the post of Leader of Opposition in Delhi but why is Congress gloating about AAP success as if they had a covert ‘hand’ in the whole exercise. They {GOP} should have been brooding with a successive ‘zero’ and a drastic fall in vote share. Maybe they are used to it or accept that it [zero] was the best they deserved.

*****

Protests Valves

are

Safety

The opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act [CAA] and the National Citizens Register [NCR] etc is no longer a protest but a virus akin to the pandemic Coronavirus that has engulfed the whole world and there is panic all over.

In a similar vein, the protests against the THE SECULAR CITIZEN

by Marshall Sequeira ill-conceived measures have spread far and wide across India. What started as a small protest in Jamia has now become a pan India movement. The police brutality there and subsequently in JNU, infuriated the people but the women power is actually spearheading the movement throughout the length and breadth of the nation. A responsible government ought to have reached out to the protestors but as usual, the government showed defiance and arrogance making things worse. Protestors have not come from Pakistan, one judge observed.

Everybody knows that the CAA was passed by Parliament and therefore binding on the citizens. Legislations which are not in the interest of the people can be revoked. You don’ need a precedent. The Court is looking into the matter. While there is no ‘stay’ on the legislation, the Courts have reiterated that the right to peaceful protest is a basic democratic right of the people and such protests cannot be termed as anti-national. This position of the judiciary has invigorated the protestors which mainly comprise of women and students. It is this development that should have jolted the government.

There is no need to repeat ad nauseam that the government will neither dilute nor withdraw the legislation. In a scathing observation at an event, S C Judge D.Y. Chandrachud said “Protests are like safety valves” and added “No individual can claim monopoly over idea of India. Within bounds of law liberal democracies ensure citizens enjoy right to express themselves in every conceivable manner, including protest.

The blanket labeling of dissent as antinational or anti-democratic, strikes at the heart of our commitment to protection of constitutional values and promotion of deliberative democracy”. Very strong words these for the establishment. With the CAA and NCR already global issues, wonder if Trump, who arrives today, will ‘offer’ his help to bring a compromise! Interesting!

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“What Shall I do with Jesus?”

“Pilate said to them, ‘then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said, ‘let him be crucified’” [MATTHEW 27:22]!

Each year, the season of Lent is meant to ask ourselves this question, “What shall I do with Jesus?” During a Lenten Mission at St. Theresa’s Bandra many years ago, the team of preachers touched every heart present there with this question. The dilemma seems to remain with us as we struggle between what is right and what is convenient!

power and pleasures, stripping it of Faith, hope and Charity, worthless in my own world. But darkness filled the emptiness within. Now I need his light, so where shall I find Jesus?

When I was being tossed on life’s sea, he came walking on water, to touch me and save me. Lifting me out of the troubled waters, he challenged me to be a ‘good Catholic’.

But ‘convenient’ is not always ‘right ‘. In the light of the false dawn I was lost! But the signs of his presence are too strong to ignore and the call of conscience, an open door. So where do I find Jesus?

And today my dilemma is what do I do with this Jesus?

He assured me not to worry “about the food and drink you need to stay alive, or about clothes for your body”. How do I tell He created me in his own imhim that my needs are age, fashioned me with love endless and just stayand breathed life into me ing alive is not enough? I within my mother’s womb. open the entrance to my He powered me with beauty, life to let the world in. But showered me with blessings he knocks on the back and set me in Eden amidst door and walks in. what his own. And I wanted to shall I do with him? play God!

by Vera Alvares He brought me to my He claimed me as his own from the day he washed me clean, knees so that he could raise me highanointed me as a sheep of his flock er than before. But I saw only the fall, to grow, to love and cherish him. He condemned him and cried foul. Then has been in my life, cause of my ex- someone crossed my path, I saw only istence. He carries me in the plam of his messenger and not the message. his hand and close to his heart. He So he paid the price for my recklessexists in my every breath and in the ness and bought my soul. What shall beating of my heart, standing in the I do with him? way of my waywardness. What shall “Come to me all you who are burI do with Him? dened……” came his clarion call. But My human eyes can better perceive I ran away from him to find rest with the good things of this earth, my hap- the idols of wealth, popularity, arropiness lies in gold and glitter. Fo- gance, pride and lived my wayward cused on my own footprints I fail to life. He stayed put in the Tabernacle, notice HIS, deeper than mine, for he his gaze following me everywhere. carries the weight of my Cross. He His voice chimed the Gloria, Hosanwalks on beside me, he seems to na and Ave Maria from the highest tower and I could run no more. He persist. What shall I do with him? sacrificed himself daily on the altar of So I filled this house of my heart with Calvary and swept all my idols away.

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THE SECULAR CITIZEN

What shall I do with Jesus?

He gives me an option- to do what is right or do what is convenient. Like Pilate I am drawn between uprightness and the desire to become popular. I am of this world and choose what is convenient, by now my conscience has fallen silent! A battered and bleeding Jesus standing humbly like a criminal before Pilot is a scene I want to wash off my conscience- so I wash my hands off all the blame, responsibility and guilt. But He stands there stripped of his clothing crowned with thorns, silently summoning me to follow Him. What then shall I do with Jesus?

I stained my soul and sparkled my face, joined the throng during his last hours. I spat and slapped, ridiculed, gambled for his clothes and pierced his side for that last drop of his life. In return mercy poured to flood my soul and he rewarded me with a precious gift, “She is your mother!” What shall I do with Mary’s Divine Son? When it is time for me “to put everything in order”, out of the bitterness that fills my heart would I cry out to him and say, “I have always tried to do what you wanted me to do”. I repent and plead for mercy. Now I know what I should have done with Jesus!

So Lord Jesus I know what to do with you, I will live for you, you alone………you forgive all my sins….

Lord you have healed me I will play on the harp and sing your praise Sing praise in your temple as long as I live.

Whatever you shall do with Jesus, let HIM be your true God !

(Courtesy‘the Crusaders for Jesus and Mary’)

2-8 March 2020

24x7 Shopping in Mumbai Metro

by C.K.Subramaniam umbai city is glorified with 24X7 shopping facility as one one can shop, dine and play all night long and reduce the tension you have undergone in the office routine. The night shopping facility will provide housewives to go for an outing and buy the items required for their regular use. The introduction of this arrangement is introduced at an appropriate time and both Christmas and New Year for shopping enjoyment.

Again, we wish to see Mumbai like Shanghai and this is one step in the direction to make our dream come true.

M

The theatres and cinema halls will bring curtains down at 1 AM although they can choose to open seven days a week throughout the year.

With high malls opening throughout the night we can see light at the end of the day and busy shopping is expected during week ends and just before festivities. The opening of shops should continue on a regular basis and it should not be tried out on an experimental basis. It is time to stop, drop and shopping a planned w a y

Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and just like in Mumbai night life in the metro city is worth experiencing and with additional entertainment it will be worthwhile to go out and make hey when the lights are on. Despite providing such a special provision, it is time to have round the clock police protection for the safety and security of the mid-night shoppers. After all shopping is for enjoyment and having a fear of being robbed during the odd hours will take away the actual interest on outing. Even though both cinema halls and theatres could not re-

and make your day complete in all respects. As consumers we expect downsizing of price tag with attractive discounts and freebies offered on the eve of New Year. Then shopping will become a real pleasure.

main open all night, it will be a thrilling experience to go on shopping spree.

Shopping is really passion for both la-

2-8 March 2020

THE SECULAR CITIZEN

dies and gents and shopping during festivities is really fun. With debit and credit cards at your disposal and the ATMs at every focal points it is enjoyable shopping and the night shopping add to the shopping spree. Shopping malls offer 50 to 60% discounts on the eve of Christmas and New year to woo the customers. It is best time for shop keepers to move their running stock by offering slash in the prices and the mid night shopping paves way for better shopping time at a leisurely pace after completing household work.

The present day clientele e n j o y the new wave of shopping very much.

Despite online shopping is prevailing very much, people would like to pick and choose as per own choice by visiting the shopping malls in the main city. We heard of such a facility in Singapore and Dubai and now we are experiencing such a feeling in the metro city. Please take care of your wallets as we find highway robberies are common and do not drink and drive in the expressways and risk your life in the name of shopping at night. Let us make shopping a pleasure and not a burden by falling into traps laid to cheat the people coming in large numbers on the eve of festivities.

As in the past, festival season is encouraging for sporadic shopping and we witness shopping is done during every day till Diwali, the festival of lights. The sale in shops is going up and online purchases are the order of the day. Malls in and around Mum(Contd.. on p. 19)

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Ad. Rates for Thanksgiving

Colour Rs. 800 Favours granted minimum i.e. 15 words + 1 block(1 photo of saint) each additional block Rs. 400 Holy Spirit Prayer Rs. 1000 Other small prayers (upto 100 words) Rs. 1000

Make Avial And Enjoy Your Food Avial - a SOUTH INDIAN DELICACY

B/W Rs. 500 Rs. 300 Rs. 700 Rs. 700

Contact: Tel.: +91 - 9820485389, 9820473103 The Secular Citizen, 99, Perin Nariman Street, Fort, Mumbai - 400001

Prayer to St. Expedite for solving a financial crisis I call forth the Power and the presence of St. Expedite in my time of financial trouble. I offer my body, heart, mind and soul upon your altar of light. I have faith and trust and complete confidence that you will be my strength in this time of need.

Quickly come to my assistance.

(State Your Petition)______________ My financial need is urgent. Be my Light and Guide in this situation so that I may live with peace, love, prosperity and abundance and in the Praise of God. Amen. (Promise Publication) —Ms Rose, Goa

Thanksgiving

Thanks to Divine Mercy, Our Lady of Vailankani, Our Lady of perpectual Succor and St. Anthony —Ms Rose, Goa

Thanksgiving May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be Praised Adored, Glorified and Loved today and everyday throughout the world, now and forever.Amen!!

Ask St. Clare for three favours two impossible and say nine Hail Mary's and the above prayer for 9 days with a lighted candle and publish on the 9th day your request will be granted no matter how impossible it is —S. M. D'Souza, Udupi

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Avial

Avial can perhaps be referred to as one of the most popular vegetarian dishes in Kerala. Several vegetables are cooked together in a perfect blend and texture to create this timeless classic. Garnished with coconut oil, to give it an irresistible aroma.

Ingredients: 01. Yam – 15 g 02. Snake gourd – 5 g 03. String beans (Achinga) – 5 g 04. Carrot - 10 g 05. Drumstick – 10 g 06. Cucumber (yellow) – 15 g 07. Padattikaaya - one half 08. Raw mango – a little 09. Coconut oil – 3 tsp 10. Turmeric powder – 1 tsp 11. Chilli powder – 1 tsp 12. Salt – to taste 13. Coconut grated – ½ of one coconut 14. Cumin seeds – 1 tsp 15. Green chillies – 10 g 16. Curry leaves – one sprig 17. Coconut oil – 3 tsp Preparation: 01. Slice the yam into thin long pieces and place it in water.

02. Slice the drumstick, snake gourd, string beans, carrot and cucumber into thin long pieces and place it all in water in another vessel.

03. Chop the padattikaaya into small pieces and soak it in water separately.

04. Slice the raw mango and keep aside separately.

05. Heat coconut oil in a small frying pan, and add the drumstick, string beans, snake gourd and carrot one by one.

06. The yam must then be placed on the top.

07. Place the cucumber on top of the yam.

08. The cucumber must be right at the top or the yam might turn darker in colour.

09. The vegetables are placed in this way because they are to be cooked without water.

10. Finally add the turmeric powder, chilli powder and salt carefully on top of the arranged vegetables.

11. Close the vessel with a lid and cook on a low flame. When it boils well, mix it all well together.

12. When the yam is three- fourths cooked, add the padattikaaya and the raw mango and keep the vessel closed with a lid to cook.

13. When all the vegetables are cooked, open the lid and make a small hole in the centre of the vegetables.

14. The water that collects in this hole should be scooped out with a big spoon and poured over the vegetables.

15. When all the water has gone, mash well together the grated coconut, cumin seeds and green chillies along with the curry leaves and blend it well together.

—Jayanthy Subramaniam

THE SECULAR CITIZEN

2-8 March 2020

Mangaluru marks feast of Relic of St Anthony

M

ost Mangaloreans have St. Anthony close to their hearts and declare the receipt of miracles now and again if you observed, many men and women for decades bear the saints name in many forms, 'Tony' 'Antonia' being more common. in fact not only in India but the world over St.Anthony of Padua is revered. In Mangalouru his feasts are regularly marked and devotions perpetualy conducted. In keeping with this tradition 'Feast of

the Relic of the tongue 2020' was celebrated with deep favour and piety on February 15, 2020.

St Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu as always organizes the feast of Relic of St Anthony, with full honours. Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza the emeritus Bishop of Mangalore offered at Milagres ground the Holy Mass in honour of the Relic of Saint Anthony that day. In his message the bishop said that St Anthony in his short life didn’t think of hunger, thirst and rest but preached the word of God continuously. He sacrificed his life and made other’s life beautiful.

He called on the people gathered to take example from the life of this saint.

Rev. Dr Prakash Monteiro the campus director of Philomena College Puttur preached the homily during the mass.

St Anthony made use of his tongue to preach the word of God and to fill hope in the life of people. He spent himself fully in performing miracles, all for others and to bring solace in the life of people. God in return has blessed St Anthony by keeping his tongue fresh even after eight centuries of his demise. Earlier during the

2-8 March 2020

day a Holy Mass was offered for the inmates at the Jeppu Ashram at 6 am.

At 8.15 am Holy Mass was offered in Milagres Church for the sick and elderly. Fr Walter Mendonca the Parish Priest of St Anthony Church Sastan offered Holy Mass at the Ashram. Fr Alex professor at St Joseph Church Jeppu offered Mass at 4.30 pm in Malayalam at Milagres Church.

A number of priests from and around Mangalore City, Religious Sisters and thousands of people including people from Mumbai, Goa, Orissa and Kerala participated in the Celebration. Fr Onil D’Souza the director of the Ashram thanked all those extended their support to organize the feast. Fr Thrishan D’Souza and Fr Roshan D’Souza the Asst directors co-operated to make the celebration successful.

Special Prayers to St Anthony for the irradication of Corona Virus : At the main venue Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza the emeritus Bishop of Mangalore offered prayer for the extinction of Corona Virus at Milagres church

grounds after the festive Holy Mass.

The spreading of Corona Virus has caused death, illness and fear all over.

In this back ground the St Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu organized candle light THE SECULAR CITIZEN

prayer service for the extinction of this virus. The prayer was offered to Christ the great physician who during His earthly ministry healed people from all kinds of sickness. St. Anthony performed miracles and healed many people in the name of Jesus. Thousands of people along with priests and Religious Sisters participated in the prayer This most important feast celebrating St Anthony after the June 13 feast, and marks the discovery of his incor-

rupt tongue, more than 30 years after his death, the tongue of beloved Anthony, Doctor of the Church, is perfectly preserved. Anthony was born into a wealthy family in 1195. He was buried in Padua, Italy.

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to have an eco-friendly Christmas 1. Stand in the kitchen.

2. Finish off the sweets your wife makes.

3. Then say..... “My mother makes sweets better than you.”

Enjoy the fireworks. *****

Secret Santa

Anthony was fast asleep after attending midnight mass and he was woken up by Santa at 3 in the morning and asked Anthony to express his wish which Santa would fulfill gladly. Joe knelt down and thanked Santa and said, “Can you please replace my wife who has made my life miserable? To Anthony’s shock Santa beat him black and blue till he fainted in his bed. That was his wife dressed up as Santa. Be careful my friends before you express your wish. *****

Epic moment

That moment when you’ve changed your answer in an exam in the very last second and later you realise the original answer was correct. ***** Hello (man on telephone), “Gurpreet is there?” “No he is not there” (lady on the other end). “Who are you?” (asks the caller)_ “Gurpreet’s wife Gurpreet”, the lady answers and questions, “Who are you?” The man answers “I am Gurpreet, Gurpreet’s friend.” ***** 1995 : Answer All Questions 2000 : Answer Any 5 Questions 2010 : Answer Either A (Or) B 2015 : At least Read The Questions.

2020: Thanks For Coming. ***** What is the relationship is between cafes and bars? Simple: Most of the love stones start at cafes and end at bars ***** An airline introduced a special package for business men. Buy your ticket get your wife’s ticket free. After great success, the company sent letters to

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page all the wives asking how was the trip?

All of them gave a same reply: Which trip? ***** What is the height of misunderstanding? a man marrying his own secretary thinking that she will still follow his orders as before. ***** Teacher to Student : What is hyper active possessive definition of circulated motion?

Student : Zimbalakadi Takada Bamba Huchalu?

Teacher : I did not understand what you said Student : Same Here, Mam ***** Wife at night : Tell me how much did Sachin score in 2003 World Cup against Pakistan?”

Husband : 98, Why? Wife : Now tell me why you didn’t wish me for my birthday since morning?

Husband : I couldn’t even say I have a bad memory. ***** Woman : did you clean out the refrigerator as I told you?

Maid : Yes, mam and everything was very tasty. ***** An elephant drinking from a stream spots a tortoise lounging on the shore.

He grabs it with his trunck and flings it into the jungle. A passing zebra asks, “Why did you do that?” “Forty years ago that very tortoise nipped my tail just for fun,” the elephant said. How did you remember that?” “Well I have turtle recall,” replied the elephant. *****

The jacket THE SECULAR CITIZEN

I was in the shop looking for a jacket to buy my girlfriend as a present. I couldn’t decide which one to get, so I asked the salesman, “If you were buying *****

How to hide your important files from people without making hidden folders?

1. Go to Desktop and create a new folder.

2. Name the folder icon to Internet Explorer.

3. Change the folder icon of the Desktop.

4. Keep it in a corner of the Desktop.

Now feel safe because no one will open Internet Explorer. ***** Teacher : Raju and Bablu, tell me what if truth falls?

Raju and Bablu : We don’t know Sir. Teacher : Can anybody answer?

Preeti : Yes, Sir! The screenshot works ***** When your life is in darkness, pray God and ask him to free you from darkness. Even after you pray, if your still in darkness, please pay the electricity bill. ***** Japanese came to India. He took an auto to go to the airport on the way a Honda overtakes Japanese: Honda made in Japan, very fast Next to Toyota overtakes.

Japanese : Toyota made in Japan, very fast Airport came he asked: How much?

Autowala : Rs 8000 Japanese : Why so expensive?

Autowala : Meter made in India, very fast. ***** Little boy : Buy this parachute and land safely on the ground during emergency Customer : What if this does not open when needed?

Little boy : You’ll get your money back.

2-8 March 2020

Inspiration!

Hope is an investment of self 'HOPE' INVOLVES THE active participation of body and mind to achieve the challenge before us. All facets of being human play a key role where hope is involved; cognitive, behavioural, emotional, physical, physiological, psychological and spiritual Hope is a human phenomenon; an elixir that is self-generated from within.

Regardless of our differences as human beings, hope remains perhaps our most powerful tool for coping with the many challenges that life presents.

It significantly influences the healing process both psychologically, emotionally and physically. It decreases depression, anxiety and stress. Having hope increases our overall wellbeing.

To have hope is to want an outcome that makes your life better in some way. It not only can help make a tough present situation more bearable but also can eventually improve our lives because envisioning a better future motivates you to take the steps to make it happen. Whether we think about it or not, hope is a part of everyone’s life. Everyone hopes for something. It’s an inherent part of being a human being. Hope helps us define what we want in our futures and is part of the self-narrative about our lives we all have running inside our minds. The definition of hope can differ depending on the person doing the talking.

When people speak about hope in a spiritual context, it might mean believing good things will happen with faith in a higher power. They might direct their hopes outward in prayer.

We often think of hope as naive or unrealistic, imagining it is throwing

2-8 March 2020

noring red flags and hoping things will just work out. Many will even suppress hope because they are terrified of disappointment.

When something seems possible, we motivate ourselves and believe we can get there. When we’re hopeful, we think and act strategically, rather than becoming complacent or paralysed by fear. When we feel hopeful, we change the way we think about a situation or challenge.

We envision things getting better and how we’d like to get there. We can gain a broader perspective by understanding we don’t have control over what happens, only our reaction to it.

things against the wall and hoping something will stick. It can also be conflated with blind optimism or ig-

In a way, having hope links your past and present to the future. You have a vision for what you hope will happen.

Even if it does not, just envisioning it can make your feel better.

APANG SEVA RALLY (33RD)!

33Rd Rally of the handicapped members from Vasai was held at Umelman in Hanuman Mandir on Sunday 9th Feb. It was a full day program of prayer, sports, entertainment and community meal for About 250 members come from different places.

In the picture Dr. Divya Bijur is seen being honoured with Jidda Award by Fr. Joe Pereira, Juhu for being a successful Physiotherapist inspite of being born blind.

-Cynthia Baptista -------------Fr. Michael G. St. Paul Church, Nanbhat, Post Sopara, Vasai (N) THE SECULAR CITIZEN

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A Fresh Insight Into The Weeks Of Lent The First Week he first Sunday in Lent guides us along the spiritual path to the passion of Christ. From this day on we prepare ourselves in prayer, penance, sacrifice and mortification in a pious approach to living a holy life. We try to understand God’s love for humanity, as we bring Jesus closer to our own reality.

T

ing experience of fasting for forty days and forty nights, Satan, as Scripture informs us did all he could to convince the Lord Jesus – and, Satan failed.

When we think of the times when the tempter tried to make promises, constantly enticing us to evil thoughts, words and deeds, how many of us

heirs of God, ‘fellow heirs with Christ’ provided we also suffer to be “glorified with him”.

A Catholic priest based his Sunday sermon on the ‘Crucifixion’ of Christ.

He focused his homily on the painting of the crucifixion by the famous artist Dali. The painting was a remarkable

The moment we say lent is a time for self- renewal in the period of five prayer weeks, I believe, as it were, the entire nature of personal change in thinking and devotion takes us nearer to the true spirit of lent, to meditate on the greatest sacrifice Christ made for our redemption from sin.

Despite the blunder of Adam’s disobedience which brought sin into the world, God gave us salvation through his Son Jesus, who accepted in obedience to do his Father’s will, to be the ‘lamb of God’ and pay the price for man’s sin.

turned to Christ? Not many, I imagine. Many a good Catholic have complained that their body was weak, but the spirit strong. The psalmist cried, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions” (Ps.51:1).

Throughout the pages of holy Scripture the struggle of man to believe and trust In his letter to the Romans, God’s word is clearly of diSaint Paul helps us to find vine ordinance: to confront temptation and overcome it, By Melvyn Brown God in living by the Spirit. “ For all who are led by to meet opposition and adversity in the quest for justice, to brave the Spirit of God are sons of God”. resistance from dark forces of evil – (Rom.8:10). saying, “Begone Satan” as Christ did I read in an article where the writer re(Mat.4:10). minds his readers of the word of God The First Sunday in Lent opens with calling out to Adam, where are you? the temptation of Christ, testing the Each year we witness the passion of spirit of his Faith. In obedience to Christ and the word of God calling us his Father’s will Christ was “led by to Him; to change our ways, to be a the Spirit into the wilderness to be better person, to be led by the Spirit tempted by the devil”. After a gruel- and to live. As children of God we are

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image of Christ looking down on us – as though he saw us with pity in his eyes; that we sin and will sin again.

Millions have seen the painting as a work of creative art, only a few of those millions received the message – Christ was the lamb of God, who sacrificed his life for the salvation of all mankind, he had redeemed the world, once- and- for- all.

The coming weeks will take us through the arduous journey of assimilation of events from God’s divine plan. We will follow the crowds as they witness the Lord’s pain, suffering, agony, crucifixion and death.

We all know that every age meets with problems in one form or the other.

Because this is true, lent has the traditional impact of giving hope, peace and the promise of a new life. Believe and be saved.

2-8 March 2020

(Contd.. from p. 13) bai/ Navi Mumbai are the best place to shop. There is sufficient space to move around and shop with joy and there is different choices available and maximum discounts offered during the peak purchasing time. Customers really enjoy shopping during festival season. It is indeed a nice time to see people flock for purchases. Shopping start for Diwali from the last day of October and the sales are increasing as the Diwali is nearing day by day.

Shopping is really a grace and passion and ladies enjoy shopping more than men. Children accompany parents to enjoy the big shopping experience.

With introduction of credit/debit cards and as ATM kiosks are available at every shopping Mall it is not difficult to draw money and do shopping. Shopping malls offer great discounts from 50 to 60% to woo the customers. The saying goes like this "Save something for the Festive season". But the shops offer best discounts during the seasonal sale to make old stock move.

It is best time for shop owners to move their old stock by offering slash in prices. Somehow, the consumers are falling in this trap. The general trend is to give buy one get one free if you buy a shirt worth Rs.1000/= as a Diwali offer. There are terrific offers on watches, jewellery and fragrances just like in cloth and other consumer items.

It is best buy is to go to shops and make purchases instead of doing online purchases and get cheated in the process. While ordering for new mobile, people get two cakes of washing soap inside the shop in the bargain. In the end it is money that matters very much. Happy festival time shopping.

Despite all the drawbacks on online shopping is doing soaring business during festive season with lots to offer for the buyers. Online shopping is a great resource for finding products that are from past seasons or that are being liquidated. Housing this type of product in a central warehouse allows the retailer to sell products longer by letting them sit unsold, without destroying the profit margin. This prac-

2-8 March 2020

tice can then result in significant savings for customers, who do not need to purchase the most current products.

The margin of profit is passed on to the consumers also and the buyers feel happy to go online to get competitive rates on commodities of their choice and liking by picking the product by going through the tariff online.

Communication with online shoppers is often streamlined with automatic responses to questions and followup, often with more professional and corporately trained employees than those found in brick-and-mortar operations. Customer services and policies are clearly stated on reputable sites to lessen any consumer confusion. Welltrained 'live' sales representatives are made available to those who have questions without waiting in long lines or searching the aisles for a store associate. Even online questionnaire is posted to regular clients to know the quality of service and product rates comparing to regular shopping.

Price-comparison sites such as Price Grabber enable shoppers to shop smarter, through utilizing services that compare the prices of a product at several stores. Shoppers not only get competitive pricing information but also product reviews and site reviews to help with their decision of what and where to buy online. Many online stores waive GST charges or shipping costs and offer free home delivery to entice shoppers to make an online purchase more affordable. Also, reputable sites offer toll-free numbers for customers, who do not post their personal information and credit card numbers online.

The sale is not just restricted to clothes, shoes and jewellery, but also to household goods. From bed sheets, bed spreads, curtains, floor mats, crockery, the list is endless. For office goers, it is not possible to shop on a regular basis, thus when such sales are on, you can buy them in bulk. The big Diwali sale also ensures that you not only splurge on essential things, but also spend a little on luxury items.

From television, music systems, refrigerator, AC, washing machine, mobiles, THE SECULAR CITIZEN

laptops, the sale on electronic items is definitely one not to be missed. It is the best time of the year for the shopaholics go on a complete shopping spree, and this Diwali season is no different. Whether it is the roadside shops or the branded ones, the Diwali sale is driving everyone crazy and how. If you have not splurged yet, here is your last chance to make up the lost time. Weekend sale attract everyone including the office goers.

Whether it is clothes, shoes, jewellery, electronic goods or household item, there is plenty to choose from. Keep your credit card active and remember the pin number when you go on for a shopping spree and make sure that you achieve a win - win situation.

Please also ensure that the items purchased by you does not have any defects before you go to pay the bill.

Diwali shopping trends are on the go and make hey when the sun shines.

Online stores have experienced tremendous growth in recent years.

Smart retailers are responding with improved user-friendly sites, more direct promotional events, enticing customer loyalty programs and good old-fashioned customer service. The festive season discount sales is a bonanza and it is time to stop, drop and shop through personal visit to shop or browse through your mouse for online shopping.

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Royal Christian Family MATRIMONIALS 7135. U.S.A. : Mangalorean RC Bachelor, (Born in June 1990) Ht. 5’ 10”, Wt. 65 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.E. in Electronics & Telecommunication (EXTC), working as a Senior Software Engineer. Contact email : ryandcunha01@gmail.com 7133. MUMBAI : Goan RC Handsome Bachelor, (Born in February 1977) Ht. 5’9”, Wt. 78 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.Sc., PG, MBA, working as a Sr. Manager in US IT Company. Contact email : trinidade.franco@gmail.com 7068. MUMBAI : Mangalorean Roman Catholic Bachelor, (Born in June 1983), Ht. 5’ 5”, Wt. 58 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. HSC, working as a Customer Service.

Contact email : cynthiadalmeida83@gmail.com 7077. MUMBAI : Mangalorean Roman Catholic Bachelor, (Born in March 1987), Ht. 5’ 10”, Wt. 80 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn.

7034. MUMBAI : Manga-

lorean Roman Catholic Bachelor, (Born in June 1988), Ht. 5’ 11”, Wt. 80 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. M.C.A., Software Engineer, working as an Software Engineer, Asst.

Manager (IT), Only Sonm seeks alliance from Mangalorean RC Spinster, educated, working in Mumbai. Reply with full details & photofraph to email : ID : vivian1548@gmail.com Mobile : 9096141335

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B.Com., working as a Manager.

Contact email : leroy2266@gmail. com OR Mob: 9503282306 7061. MUMBAI : East Indian Roman Catholic Bachelor, (Born in July 1989), Ht. 5’ 11”, Wt. 90 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. 12th, working for Central Railway Mec. Ftr II, Contact email : pkevindsouza@gmail.com 7079. MUMBAI : Mangalorean Roman Catholic Bachelor, (Born in December 1962), Ht. 5’ 5”, Wt. 67 kgs, Fair Complexion, Edn. B.Com., Inter MBA, working as a Manager. Contact email : archielewis.al@gmail.com 7049. CANADA : Goan Roman Catholic Bachelor, (Born in June 1986), Ht. 5’ 11”, Wt. 85 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. BE (Computer), working in CANADA in a Non IT Field Seeks a working girl in Canada and holding a PR Visa.

Contact email : anniedrz@gmail.com 7045. CANADA : Mangaloren Roman Catholic Divorcee, (Born in September 1985), Ht. 5' 5”, Wt. 68 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn.B.Sc., Hotel Management, having permanent Resident. Contact email : bmathias88@gmail.com 7050. LONAVLA : Mangalorean Roman Catholic Bachelor, (Born in November 1985), Ht. 5’ 9”, Wt. 75 kgs, Fair Complexion, Edn. MBA., working. Contact email : dsouza_adrian@yahoo.co.in 7052. MUMBAI : Mangalorean

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Roman Catholic Bachelor, (Born in June 1977), Ht. 5’ 6”, Wt. 72 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.A., Retail Management, working as a General Manager. Contact email : albert.pinto2006@gmail.com 7040. MUMBAI : Goan Roman Catholic Bachelor, (Born in October 1991), Ht. 5' 5”, Wt. 65 kgs, Fair Complexion, Edn. B.C.A., MBA Pursuing, working as a GIS Analyst in MNC. Contact email : onaldpereira1210@gmail.com 6971. MUMBAI : Mangalorean Roman Catholic Bachelor, (Born in December 1987), Ht. 6’, Wt. 81 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.E. Electonics, working as a Tech. Lead, in Mysore. Seeks a graduate, tall, Mangalorean girl.

Contact email : dsz.roshan@gmail.com 6979. MUMBAI : Mangalorean Roman Catholic Bachelor, (Born in March 1989), Ht. 162 cms, Wt. 74 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.Com., working as a Office in Bank. Contact email : luton767@gmail.com 7041. MUMBAI : Goan Roman Catholic Bachelor, (Born in July 1985), Ht. 5' 7”, Wt. 65 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. 10th Std., working as a Plant Operater.

Contact email : ronnydsouza075@gmail.com

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2-8 March 2020

Royal Christian Family MATRIMONIALS 7138. MUMBAI : Goan Roman Catholic Spinster, (Born in December 1984), Ht. 4’ 11”, Wt. 56 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.A., working as an Executive Assistant. Contact email : labinajena@gmail.com 7137. MUMBAI : Karnataka Protestant Spinster, (Born in January 1996), Ht. 5’ 5”, Wt. 54 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.Com., working as an Accountant.

Contact email : sujatareddy209@gmail.com 7064. MUMBAI : Goan Roman Catholic Spinster, (Born in May 1988), Ht. 5’ 2”, Wt. 50 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. MBA, working for Private Company as an Accounts Executive. Contact email : cecrc19@gmail.com 7063. MUMBAI : Mangalorean Roman Catholic Spinster, (Born in January 1993), Ht. 5’ 2”, Wt. 60 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. Intert CA. working as a Fiancee.

Contact email : eshitapais@yahoo.co.in / paischarlie@yahoo.com 7058. MUMBAI : Goan Roman Catholic Spinster, (Born in September 1987), Ht. 5’ 3”, Wt. 55 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.Com., working back office.

Contact email : venita_fernandes@rediffmail.com 7055. U.K. : Tamilian Roman Cath-

Matrimonial 7066. MUMBAI : Mangalorean Roman Catholic Spinster, (Born in June 1987), Ht. 5’ 4”, Wt. 78 kgs, Fair Complexion, Edn. B.E., (EXTC) M.S. (International Business Management), working as a Consulting Manager. Contact email : l2018anselm@yahoo.com

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Matrimonial 7128. MUMBAI : Affluent business family R.C. East Indian Spinster, (Born in April 1988), Ht. 5’ 2”, very beautiful and pretty. Edn. MS General Surgeon, Doctor by profession. Contact email : drvd2019@gmail.com

olic Spinster, (Born in April 1988), Ht. 5’ 2”, Wt. 62 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.Sc., working as a Staff Nurse in UK. Contact email : o365acc@gmail.com 7060. MUMBAI : East Indian Roman Catholic Spinster, (Born in February 1983), Ht. 5’ 4”, Wt. 50 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.Com., Diploma in Finance from NMIMS, Diploma in B, Self employed. Contact email : vianneyde2k@yahoo.com 7036. USA : Goan Roman Catholic Spinster, (Born in December 1991), Ht. 5’ 3”, Wt. 56 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.E. (E & T/C), M.S. (Tech. & Mgt.), working as a Strategic Consultant. Contact email : veronicadsouza27@gmail.com 7033. U.S.A. : Mangalorean RC Spinster, (Born in September 1991), Ht. 5’ 2”, Wt. 62 kgs, Fair Complexion, Edn. M.Tech USA., working as a Business Developer.

Contact email : vio.ban65@gmail.com 7054. MUMBAI : Mangalorean RC Spinster, (Born in June 1986), Ht. 5’ 5”, Wt. 80 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. Masters in Finance and working in Mumbai. Contact email : clamapinto@gmail.com 7046. MUMBAI : East Indian Roman Catholic Spinster, (Born in Oc-

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tober 1986), Ht. 5’ 5”, Wt. 54 kgs, Fair Complexion, Edn. B.Com., / 7 Level German, working as Sr. Associate German a/cs. in Multinational Bank. Contact email : fernweh.stan@gmail.com 7051. NEWZEALAND : Mangalorean RC Spinster, (Born in October 1991), Ht. 5’ 5”, Wt. 60 kgs, Fair Complexion, Edn. LLB., Mumbai University, studing and working towards Newzealand Lowyer Registration. Contact email : mjbnewzealand18@gmail. com 7062. MUMBAI : Mangalorean RC Spinster, (Born in January 1992), Ht. 5’ 3”, Wt. 65 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. MBA in Finance, working as an Accounting and settlement. Contact email : glenna.dsilva@gmail.com

Matrimonial 7126. U.S.A. : Mangalorean Roman Catholic Spinster, (Born in January 1992) from Mumbai, Ht. 5’ 7”, Wt. 60 kgs, Fair Complexion, Edn. B.E. (Computers) from Mumbai, M.S. (Information Systems) from US. Possesses H1B visa and is working as a Technical Analyst with a MNC in USA. Contact email : wilfyjoy1315@gmail.com or call +91 98603 02527 / + 91 9970172527 Registered members can publish their ad in all the 50 issues in a year for Rs. 8000 only.

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(Contd.. from p. 9) madis from Pakistan, Muslims and Buddhists from China (Tibet) and Rohingyas from Myanmar.

5. Highly expensive exercise: It is estimated that a national NRC would cost from 500 billion to 750 billion rupees. It will take decades to finally settle the issue. Putting undocumented doubtful citizens of around 470 million in detention camps will cost billions of rupees, resulting in debilitate economy. Detention camps are anyway known for inhumane living conditions, skyrocketing India into the worst cases scenario of human rights violation.

If numbers are analyzed, about 300 million Indians are landless, 150 million nomadic tribes and about 20 million are homeless (India defines ‘homeless’ as those who do not live in Census houses, but rather stay on pavements, roadsides, railway platforms, staircases, temples, streets, in pipes, or other open spaces), according to Census 2011.

Most of these 470 million Indians belong to Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes including Pasmandah Muslims and women. Most of this populace tends to vote against the BJP and it does not need second thoughts for one to understand that the CAA-NRC-NPR dispensation has been designed by RSS-BJP to deprive these poor and semi-literate groups of citizens of their basic rights of citizenship.

All the political parties which obtain votes from such groups will be marginalized and the Opposition will be weakened, rendering the democracy a hollow frame with no vigor.

The scheme is skillfully designed to hurt the marginalized and poor – Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis – who are already bearing the brunt of demonetization.

Under the CAA, government can grant citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants

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merely on the basis of affidavits that they migrated from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014. Excluded Muslims can be barred from having all the civic opportunities rendering them third class citizens.

That the possibility is real, can be deduced by the action of the government of India in suspending the rules made under Foreigner Act 1946, Passport Act and Citizenship Act in 2015 whereby no action can be taken against non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan for their investigation, prosecution, detention or deportation even if they entered India illegally.

Ironically, while Hindu illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan can be granted citizenship without any document, Indian Hindus and Muslims will be treated as doubtful citizens due to lack of documents. Keeping in mind the worst case scenarios, one can easily gauge the intensity of this absurd ruling. It cannot be denied that is a possibility that immigrants with Hindu identities may be sent to India by Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan as agents to work against the security interests of India.

While the Centre should concentrate on building measures for employment drives, education, food security and shelters of the 21.9 per cent Indian living below the national poverty line (https://www.adb.org/countries/india/ poverty), the BJP is focused on implementing CAA-NRC-NPR. It, therefore, becomes essential that us, as responsible Indians to resort to legal measures in persuading the government to withdraw or modify CAA-NRC-NPR. The onus also lies on the Supreme Court as the largest judicial authority in the country strike down the CAA NRC-NPR as arbitrary, discriminatory and unconstitutional.

(Source: twocircles.net. Dr Anis Ansari is founder-Vice Chancellor Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Urdu, Arabi-Farsi University, Lucknow) —MattersIndia THE SECULAR CITIZEN

(Contd.. from p. 8) the crowd. The youth are at the forefront of this condemnation of the BJP’s ‘divide and rule’ policy. And, they have voiced their disapproval through ballot power. Protests against the CAA, as well as in response to police action and inaction, took place in civil society — in the form of silent, passive, nonviolent satyagraha marches and sit-ins, especially with women at the forefront.

Shaheen Bagh became a marker for such acts of resistance. That the protests became widespread all over the country, from the invisible corners of small towns to other metros, brought the larger issue to the forefront. This seems to have been noted by the Delhi voter.

Now the Indian public have two political stories, one of BJP based on Nationalism that has manifested by hatred of a neighbour nation and a minority community and the other that has been termed by AAP as ‘politics of work’ which bases its patriotism on providing its people - water, food, electricity, schooling, transport and health - to the poorest at no cost and to others at reasonable costs. We are welfare state and the state should give its people the minimum to live a dignified life. This will in the coming years will constitute the political and social dynamics of India.

People have many material, social and psychological needs that have to be met. You the Citizens will have a choice to make between the two political stories to meet the same needs stated above. The choice can be made, if you study and decide - whether the political story is based on fiction or reality?

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WELL, IT’S THAT time of year again the start of a new school year. With it often comes the irresistible urge to make another list or even better many lists! Lists help us to plan and they can also help us reflect and assess Inaugurating a new decade brings with it a forward-looking perspective on the state of technology in these arenas, both workplaces and classrooms. How will emerging technologies in their nascent phases affect the way we prepare our youth for their lives and work ahead? The answers are uncertain but the implications are tremendously interesting and inspiring.

Video collaboration tools : The power of today’s easy to use video solution is empowering teachers to bring the world into their classroom and to make themselves more available to students. This is another technology that is by no means new but it continues to evolve steadily.

Thanks to the increasingly ubiquitous smartphone, video is becoming an anytime, anywhere solution.

3D printing : The 3D printer produces working mini-models to test out engineering design principles, so students can perfect their design before making an actual prototype. Together with CAD (Computer Aided Design) modeling software, 3D printing allows these students to experiment freely with their designs without expending considerable costs and time.

Cloud computing : Cloud computing is buzzing these days and will most likely continue to change many aspects of our society, particularly education. In the future classroom, students may just need

2-8 March 2020

Emerging technologies in classroom

an electronic device to access all their homework and all other learning resources in the Cloud. This means no more lugging heavy textbooks to school and having constant access to your reading materials as long as you have an Internet connection.

Biometrics : One technology that’s been gaining recognition is biometrics. Conventionally biometrics are associated with the security industry, as it uses what is unique to each one of us to authenticate our identity: fingerprints, facial recognition, iris patterns, voice. In terms of education, some schools are only using fingerprinting to prevent truancy and for borrowing books from their school library.

turn in. Lecturers can make use of the audio recording feature built into most smart phones to provide these personal and yet quality feedback to all students. Lecturers can exploit the group chat features of mobile devices to create an online discussion forum to encourage class participation on content topics.

LCD SCREENS Over the past few decades, we’ve seen the transition from blackboard to whiteboard, to overhead projector and to video projector for computers in schools. Specifically speaking, the next ‘board’ is likely to be a giant touchscreen LCD screen which allows a greater amount of inter activity.

Student response systems : Engaging with students and gathering feedback are two core benefits of technology in the classroom and Student Response Systems are designed to that end. While ‘SRS’ technology is by no means new, it has morphed considerably over the years and continues to evolve and emerge.

Mobile technology in classroom : Students often require personal and quality feedback on the work they THE SECULAR CITIZEN

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